MTC/ABAG/BAAQMD Climate Summit February 23, 2007

[note: space limited, first workshop filled up, RSVP via MTC site link]

Dear Bay Area resident:

A coalition of Bay Area regional agencies wants your input on the best
regional strategies to protect our climate and help reduce global
warming. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District (Air District), the Bay Conservation and
Development Commission (BCDC), and the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC) - working together as the Joint Policy Committee (JPC)
- are developing a set of initiatives that the Bay Area, acting
collectively as a region, can undertake to protect our environment.

Two ways to get involved:

1. Participate in a Regional Climate Action Workshop on Friday, February
23, 9 am to Noon in Oakland at the MTC/ABAG headquarters (Joseph P. Bort
Metrocenter, MTC Auditorium, 101 8th Street across from the Lake Merritt
BART station). We want to hear your ideas and get your reaction to a set
of strategies that are being explored.

2. Share your input with us via email ([email protected]).

We are interested in your thoughts on the following:

1. What kind of leadership does the Bay Area need from the four regional
agencies (ABAG, Air District, BCDC and MTC) on climate issues?

2. What are the most important climate protection actions these regional
agencies should take?

Below are examples of the some of the options being considered. For a
longer list based on the Air District’s 2006 Regional Climate Summit, go to:

http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/climatechange.htm#whatiscc.

· Implementing a public education and involvement campaign, such as
“Spare the Air” or “Flex Your Power”

· Conducting research on climate impacts on the Bay Area · Making
climate protection an integral part of the Regional Transportation Plan
(the Bay Area’s long-range transportation plan) · Accelerating “Smart
Growth” development policies that will strongly link transportation and
land use planning · Providing support and assistance to climate programs
operated by local governments, businesses and community organizations.

· Creating a regional information clearinghouse on climate protection
“best practices” for businesses, local governments and others

We want your feedback on these options and your suggestions for other
strategies by the four regional agencies that will improve the Bay
Area’s response to global warming.

Please email your ideas to [email protected] and/or attend the
workshop on February 16. For more information on the event, go to:
http://www.abag.ca.gov/jointpolicy/jpc_climate_change.htm.

For information on the four regional agencies:

ABAG: http://www.abag.org

Air District: http://www.baaqmd.gov

BCDC: http://www.bcdc.ca.gov

MTC: http://www.mtc.ca.gov

For directions to the workshop at the MetroCenter, go to:
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/about_mtc/directions.htm.

Thank you in advance for your feedback. We look forward to hearing from you

Official Website: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/meetings/workshops/climate_change.htm